Dealing with the Aftermath of a Commercial Fire

3/27/2023 (Permalink)

Being aware of prevention tactics for commercial buildings is extremely important.

How to Deal with a Commercial Fire's Aftermath

Calling emergency services and the fire restoration company are some of the most important steps you can take when there is a fire inside your Southern Butler County, business. However, addressing the aftermath requires more action, especially as recovery can take some time. Prepare the building for reconstruction and keep your staff safe throughout the process with these procedures.

Prepare Your Fire Insurance
Once everyone is safe and the firemen have controlled the situation, it is crucial to call your insurance company immediately. They will send representatives to work with you, examine the damage and determine the coverage of your business. Additionally, the commercial building restoration service that will handle your property can assist with the claim. It can run the inspection and fire assessment, as well as organize the required paperwork for an easier process.

Avoid Touching the Damage
The experts who will handle the fire restoration inside the building will have the necessary tools and experience to tackle the scenario. As such, you should avoid touching or cleaning affected areas such as:

• Clothes and cloth-based items
• Electrical devices and equipment
• Ceiling lights and other fixtures
• Packaged and sealed food
• Walls, painted surfaces and carpet floors
• Other soot-coated objects

Without the appropriate resources and techniques, you can risk spreading the damage or making its effects permanent. You and anyone else working in the building should leave these areas untouched to ensure a successful smoke cleaning.

Make the Building Safer
Though you cannot interfere with the damaged parts, there are some ways you can make your business building safer for anyone using it. Ensure no one eats any contaminated food by disposing of it. Also, empty the refrigerators and freezers once they are unplugged and keep them open to avoid additional contamination. Collaborate with the remediators to board up the building and prevent more damage.
An immediate response following a commercial fire is important, not just from emergency responders and the fire restoration agents, but also from you. Learn about the steps to take after the incident to facilitate the recovery.

While we hope you won’t ever have to call us, if you should find yourself in need of a professional fire restoration company SERVPRO of Southern Butler County is here to help.

Thank you for reading our blog post on fire damage problems. If you need any assistance with fire-related problems call SERVPRO of Southern Butler County today! We are here to help. Call SERVPRO of Southern Butler at 724-473-0745 and we can get to work immediately!

Commercial Emergency Plans

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

Having a shelter-in-place plan is necessary for any business.

If you manage a business or own a commercial space, you expect your employees to report to work per their schedule and fulfill their job duties in a timely manner. Your employees expect you to provide them with a safe environment in which to do their job. Most of the time, these expectations are met without incident. Every commercial space is vulnerable to risk, however, and it’s important to have plans in place to protect your staff when something out of the ordinary occurs.

Some regional risks for businesses in Southern Butler County include floods, tornadoes, and winter storms. Then, health hazards, vehicle or machinery accidents, acts of violence, and power outages or equipment failure are risks that should be included in every Emergency Response Plan no matter your geographical location. In certain emergency situations, evacuation is the safest course of action (scroll down for our previous post, Emergency Readiness: Evacuation Plans). In others—like in the instance of nearby chemical spills or a fire across the street—it’s safer for employees to remain in the building until emergency services say otherwise. For these situations, your business should have a Shelter-in-Place plan.

Shelter-in-Place plans need not be elaborate. To start creating one for your business, designate an area near the center of the building where employees can congregate; this area should be away from windows, and on the second or third floor if available. In the plan, a specific employee should be assigned to shut off the building’s air intake system. As with evacuation plans, your Shelter-in-Place plan should be triggered by an alarm or other alert system recognizable to your employees, and your staff should run practice drills no less than once a year.

Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place plans help keep your employees safe in the event of an emergency, and give them peace of mind all year round. Other ways to improve your business’s emergency preparedness include consulting local law enforcement in creating a Lockdown Plan (some departments even provide training) for our facility, and writing a Crisis Communication Plan, which lets your employees and your customers know exactly when and in what form they can expect contact from you about returning to work after a crisis.

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County specializes in emergencies!

Thank you for reading our blog post on Shelter-in-Place plans. If emergency strikes you call SERVPRO of Southern Butler County today! We are here to help. Call SERVPRO of Southern Butler immediately at 724-473-0745 and we can get to work immediately!

Commercial Buildings and Water-Related Issues They Face

2/2/2023 (Permalink)

Water problems can create thousands of dollars worth of damages

Common Water-Related Problems

Some plumbing issues may seem insignificant, but identifying and fixing these problems while they're small is vital when it comes to protecting your building. A small problem, such as a drop in water pressure, is often indicative of a larger issue, like a broken pipe. Make sure you regularly inspect your building for the following common water-related problems.

1. Pinhole Leaks
   Pinhole leaks are common water repair issues for older buildings. Cast-iron pipes are only designed to last approximately 25 years, although certain circumstances can cause them to deteriorate sooner. Keep an eye out for silent leaks by checking for spikes in your water bill or a drastic drop in water pressure.
2. Dripping Faucets and Toilets
   Much like pinhole leaks, dripping bathroom appliances can slowly, yet steadily, drive up your monthly water bill. Take the time to inspect your commercial bathrooms and make any necessary repairs.
3. Clogged Drains
   Customers tend not to treat commercial bathrooms with the same respect that they would their own residential ones. This can lead to many undesirable items getting flushed and ultimately clogging your drains. This can cause a wide range of issues, from an unsightly bathroom to severe toilet overflow.
4. Low Water Pressure
   Low water pressure is a good indicator for several issues, such as leaking pipes. The low pressure is a result of water escaping through the leak, and not making it to the faucet where it's supposed to make its exit.
5. Structural Damage
   Cracked, bulging or otherwise warped walls, ceilings and foundation can signal the presence of a serious leak. These deformities are caused by water accumulating within the walls and ceiling and are a good indication of a major flooding problem caused by a leaking or broken pipe.
   A broken pipe, backed up toilet, and clogged drain are all common plumbing issues for commercial building owners. Staying on top of the issue can help reduce the amount of damage your building suffers and keep your business running smoothly. Contact water restoration experts for professional help.

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County specializes in water damage. 

Thank you for reading our blog post on water-related problems. If you need any assistance with water-related problems call SERVPRO of Southern Butler County today! We are here to help.

Commercial Sprinklers Often cause Damage

12/19/2022 (Permalink)

When pipes freeze and burst drop ceiling tiles are often the first to show signs of damage

When the temperatures drop to the single digits, pipes in your home can freeze and break, causing massive water damage.  The same is true for commercial spaces. 

Many times, fire suppression lines run between a drop ceiling and the roof of a building, where heat from the building's heating system is often difficult to get to.  

Then as the temps drop, those pipes and their contents freeze!  But they often do not start to leak or cause their damage until the temps warm and they are able to then melt.  This delayed disaster is something that cannot be noticed until it is too late.

If you notice spots on the ceilings of your home or office call the experts at SERVPRO Southern Butler immediately at 724-473-0745 and we can get to work immediately !

COMMERCIAL FIRE RESTORATION

2/3/2021 (Permalink)

COMMERCIAL FIRE RESTORATION 

Fire damage can be very devastating for a business or commercial property. In addition to fire, smoke, and soot damage, water damage caused by firefighting efforts and fire suppression systems may occur. Every hour spent restoring your business back to pre-fire condition is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. If you have a fire emergency, call a SERVPRO Southern Butler County.

SERVPRO Southern Butler County has the training, experience, and equipment to manage your commercial fire damage emergency. They will respond quickly and manage the fire restoration project through to its completion—getting your property business-ready.

If you are a commercial business and you want to learn more about SERVPRO, Contact us today at (724) 473-0745 or visit our website at www.SERVPROsouthernbutlercounty.com

Commercial Mold Problems Call SERVPRO Southern Butler County

2/3/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial Mold Problems Call SERVPRO of Souther Butler County

Any business can quickly become infested with mold with the introduction of a water source, like a roof or plumbing leak. Mold can spread throughout a property in as little as 48-72 hours. This can become very costly to a business if not treated quickly.

If you suspect that your business has a mold problem, SERVPRO Southern Butler County can inspect and assess your property. If mold is found, they have the training, equipment, and expertise to handle the situation. 

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County 

• Provide 24/7 Emergency Service 
• Highly Trained Water Restoration Specialists 
• Faster to Any Size Disaster 
• A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry

Is you are having mold problems give SERVPRO of Southern Butler County a call today at (412) 473 - 0745

No Job Is Too Large - SERVPRO Southern Butler

2/3/2021 (Permalink)

No Job Is Too Large - SERVPRO Southern Butler Phone: (724) 473-0745 

The SERVPRO Commercial Large Loss Division is composed of our best of the best in restoration. Our elite large-loss specialists are prequalified and strategically positioned to handle any size disaster. 

Every large loss is supervised by a commercial operations manager to help ensure seamless communication and timely mitigation. 

At SERVPRO, the difference is our ability to dispatch trained production professionals  and cut costs through the strategic placement and oversight of temporary labor. Get the professionals , call SERVPRO Southern Butler County . 

Clients for the Commercial Large Loss program include the following: 

• The Hospitality Industry  
• Property Managers  
• Universities  
• Municipalities  
• The Pentagon

Contact us today at (724) 473-0745 or visit our website at https://www.SERVPROsouthernbutlercounty.com

Have Commercial Mold Problems?? Call SERVPRO Southern Butler County

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

Have Commercial Mold Problems?? Call SERVPRO Southern Butler County

Besides causing a major business interruption, a mold problem can present a serious health risk for people exposed at your commercial property. Mold infestations can be caused by minor water intrusions, like a slow roof leak or loose plumbing fitting. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. If you suspect your property has a mold problem, call a SERVPRO Southern Butler County, who will respond quickly and work fast to manage the situation.

(724) 473-0745

Mold can spread quickly through a property if left untreated. SERVPRO can respond quickly, working to first contain the infestation to help prevent its spread to other parts of the building. Next, they will begin the remediation process, working safely and effectively to manage the situation. They have the training, experience, and equipment to contain the mold infestation and remediate it to pre loss condition. 

Commercial Water Damage

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial Water Damage

Water damage can strike your commercial property at any time. Water damage can sideline your business, regardless if the damage occurs from a major storm event or a broken water line. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when you have an emergency water event, SERVPRO Southern Butler offers fast, 24 hour emergency services, 365 days per year.

SERVPRO has the training, experience, and equipment to manage water and flooding damage. Whether you have a large water emergency or a small water damage event, they will respond quickly to mitigate the damage and manage the restoration project through to its completion. 

• Water Damage Restoration Technician
• Applied Structural Drying Technician
• Odor Control Technician
• Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician

Please visit our website at http://SERVPROsouthernbutlercounty.com. We are always here to help.

Commercial Damage when Storms Hit Your Location

6/13/2019 (Permalink)

Hurricanes and storms provide various levels of damage. Hurricanes can blow in rain in feet not inches, while tornadoes can shred a structure to bits. Buildings are often lifted off of their foundation, roofs blow off, windows blown out and wind damage to everything remaining. But, there are other ways that commercial buildings can sustain less noticeable damage when storms, even minor ones, blow through. 

Wind, for example, can break out a window allowing the slightest amount of water to come in. That water can hit computers, printers and other electronics, causing immediate damage. Other lesser know commercial structure damages after storms can be short circuiting of wiring. 

All commercial buildings need a simple mitigation strategy in place for preventing damage to valuable equipment, but the best strategy is to ensure your company’s insurance documents are safe and archived digitally and that all computer work is saved somewhere in the cloud or outside server. Damage to walls and flooring are often minimized by new safety protocols that use heavy duty material to prevent catastrophic damage to ceilings and flooring. 

The longer you wait to make a decision after your office building sustains damage, the more the damage will be, and the greater premium will be paid for insurance purposes. The best bet is always to be prepared with back up plans to operate your business if damage to the structure is sustained. Hurricanes such as Florence and Michael that recently ripped through South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida, bring a wrath with them and commercial business structures take a huge hit when damages of any size occur. 

We want your company to have the best possible clean up after a disaster strikes so have our number and contact information handy. 

Commercial Storm Damage

4/3/2019 (Permalink)

Commercial Storm Damage

With the new patterns in our weather, starting to waken, it’s time to look at how storm damage can impact the commercial scene. Many commercial buildings can just hold tight during regular storms, take little or no damage when a tornado visits, and control flames with special surfaces designed to be flame resistant. However, a loss in the corporate sector, if one of these elements fails, can mean the business also fails.

Thunder storms can cause windows to break and materials to rip off from the side of the building. The broken window will lead to water damage of the inner computers and electronics. When the electronics are impacted, the business plan is halted until the water is dried.

Hurricanes pose the greatest threat to tall commercial structures because of their ability to rush water into any open surface quickly. This rush of water takes its toll on the office or commercial building almost immediately, shorting out plug outlets and more. You have seen the damage that a hurricane can do to large structures like the skyscrapers in Florida or the damage to smaller buildings. Being prepared for this kind of disaster is often easier said than done.

Here are two things to check for to make sure your commercial structure is protected from the damage of storms, big or small.

1. Use Plenum Cable to protect the network in the plenum space. A plenum space is a part of a building that can facilitate air circulation for heating and air conditioning systems, by providing pathways for either heated/conditioned or return airflows, usually at greater than atmospheric pressure. Plenum cable is electrical cable that is laid in the plenum spaces of buildings. In the United States, plastics used in the construction of plenum cable are regulated under the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 90A: Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems. This is required by building codes so just be sure to be up to code with this one issue.

2. Have a strategy for insurance claims in the event that your business is hit by a storm or a hurricane. It’s a little crazy to have damage that has not been mitigated within your corporate structure. Take note of your inventory so if your building does sustain damage you are ready with a list of equipment that you may lose if a storm hits your building. Take detailed notes on each piece of equipment within your building as well as the estimated current value. Rain damage can cause wires to short, thus causing a fire. Fire damage can be catastrophic immediately. Prevention is the cure.

Commercial Water Damage can be very costly.

3/7/2019 (Permalink)

Commercial Water Damage

Your business is the life-blood of your entire life, and when the building gets water damage, the costs can be through the roof to fix. Insurance may or may not pay for the repairs or the replacement of your office equipment. Your business can potential lose valuable information and records when water gets through the walls.

Water can make its way into the corporate building through internal and external openings. For example, you may think of water from storms when you think about how water can damage your office equipment. But, one of the main causes of water damage inside of a corporate structure, is pipes that leak slowly.

When the pipes inside or your corporate structure, become faulty and spring the smallest of a leak, your office can be destroyed in a matter of minutes, once that lead reveals itself. A leaky pipe will send water that starts to soak up and penetrate porous surfaces such as ceiling tile. When the water has saturated the ceiling tile, it will slowly start to cause the white ceiling tile panels to be discolored.

It’s at this time when you know you have water coming from somewhere. Most business owners and homeowners alike, often just look over the discoloration yet know there must be a leak. They will put it off until one day the entire ceiling falls in and an ocean of water follows. The water can just stay where it is in the attack or wherever, slowly forming mold. Once those porous surfaces are totally saturated, the tiles break and water falls.

Tip #1 – If you see brown coloring on a ceiling tile, there is water above that tile. It may just be that rain water came in or it could be that a pipe is leaking from above. Either way, you need to locate the leak.

Tip #2 – Make it a priority to check on the pipes which flow above head, whether it be a bathroom or other area with running water. Just feel the pipes and the surfaces around the pipe for wetness.

Commercial Water Damage can be very costly.

1/5/2019 (Permalink)

Commercial Water Damage can be very costly.

After 911 in 2001, many businesses started to see the necessity for back up plans to keep their document safe, and thus the “cloud” was created. Protecting equipment is a bit different. Commercial storm damage can be unseen as it damages to wiring, or very seen such as seeing the equipment slammed onto the floor.

You may have millions of dollars invested in the latest technology, but one storm could ruin it all. Printers, scanners and computer are the first pieces of equipment that can sustain damage. Even the slightest amount of water can destroy equipment. Trees falling into a building can take out an exterior wall within a matter of moments.

A professional commercial storm damage clean up crew can assist when your small or large business has been damaged by storms, but waiting too long to get help can be very costly. In 2018 we had a weak hurricane season so the occurrences of commercial storm and water damage were lower than normal. What does this mean? Perhaps that 2019 won’t be so gentle.

The hurricane that hit Panama City was terribly devastating and left commercial structures with one option – be demolished. What remained were buildings that will need to be gutted just to function again. You need a professional to help clean up the damage.

Commercial Damage when Storms Hit Your City

10/23/2018 (Permalink)

Commercial Damage when Storms Hit Your City

Total devastation is the only way to describe what happens to commercial structures during hurricanes such as Florence. Buildings are often lifted off of their foundation, roofs blow off, windows blown out and wind damage to everything remaining. But, there are other ways that commercial buildings can sustain less noticeable damage when storms, even minor ones, blow through.

Wind, for example, can break out a window allowing the slightest amount of water to come in. That water can hit computers, printers and other electronics, causing immediate damage. Other lesser know commercial structure damages after storms can be short circuiting of wiring.

All commercial buildings need a strategy in place for preventing damage to valuable equipment, but the best strategy is to ensure your company’s insurance documents are safe and archived digitally and that all computer work is saved somewhere in the cloud or outside server. Damage to walls and flooring are often minimized by new safety protocols that use heavy duty material to prevent catastrophic damage to ceilings and flooring.

The longer you wait to make a decision after your office building sustains damage, the more the damage will be, and the greater premium will be paid for insurance purposes. The best bet is always to be prepared with back up plans to operate your business if damage to the structure is sustained. Hurricanes such as Florence and Michael that recently ripped through South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida, bring a wrath with them and commercial business structures take a huge hit when damages of any size occur.

We want your company to have the best possible clean up after a disaster strikes so have our number and contact information handy.

Commercial Water Damage after Hurricane Florence

10/2/2018 (Permalink)

Commercial Water Damage after Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence recently left its mark on the Carolinas and reminds us yet again, that mother nature leaves no stone unturned. After a hurricane leaves torrential rains, water rises up to the floors and nothing is immune. Business are usually impacted the worse after a hurricane.

When business owners imagine extreme water damage, they often picture a massive storm wiping out power lines, flooding offices, and shutting down businesses for days at a time. It is true that commercial water damage is often the result of floods and water that stems from weather events and storms.

However, many entrepreneurs and business space renters forget that storms and severe weather aren't the only causes of floods and water damage. Here are some of the typical causes of water damage to commercial buildings.

1. Malfunctioning sprinkler systems

Some older office and retail buildings still have old sprinkler systems that work in conjunction with fire protection systems. While such sprinklers can come in handy during a fire emergency, they can also cause commercial flood damage if they are faulty or in need of replacement. This could easily damage inventory and business assets.

2. Damaged appliances and equipment

This cause of commercial flood damage is more common in restaurants and catering facilities, as well as any business that has appliances and equipment that make use of water. If the appliance fails and sends water across your building, especially during late hours when no one is around, you may come back to work and face a water emergency.

3. Broken pipes and plumbingJust like in a residence, if the plumbing system in your workplace fails water damage could be the result.

4. Backed up sewer lines

This is another cause of commercial water damage that often catches business owners by surprise. Should the sewer line to your building back up or become damaged, realize the potential dangers of contaminated Black Water which can cause health effects and ruin products. Please check out our website at http://www.SERVPROsouthernbutlercounty.com for more information.

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Commercial Damage Processes

8/30/2018 (Permalink)

Commercial Damage Processes

When your home is flooded or damaged by fire, water or storms, it’s hard on you and your family. But, when a building such as a high-rise or apartment is damaged by fire, storms or water, millions of dollars in damage could be the result.

While you cannot determine when something like this will happen, you surely know that you need a professional team of mold remediation specialists, water damage professionals and smoke cleansing procedures to save valuable assets of a company. Commercial incidents can result in harm, not only to the building, the equipment and bottom line, but to the most valuable asset; to the workers and employees that are inside of this structure.

After 9-11 it became clear that commercial damage remediation needed to be discussed before and after the damage. Preparing for a laundry list of “What Ifs” is critical to ensuring your building or company structure is read in case of any damage from fire, water, storms or smoke damage. So, what are some ways your company can ensure that if something does happen to cause damage to the facility or building, you and your team is ready.

Smoke detectors and water systems for fire issues are two ways your company can deal with fire quickly. Once a fire starts to take ahold of fuel, (aka, furniture and permeable material) there is little that can stop it. A small fire, however, can be taken care of quickly with the proper equipment.

One thing to watch out for in commercial buildings to prevent water and mold damage, is sinks. So many buildings flood each year because of overflowing sinks and/or toilets that no one realizes because there isn’t a clear system of checking these things. If you own a company that has more than one floor, a good policy is to increase the times that housekeeping checks the bathrooms for leaks.

The more you prepare before the damage, the less your liability will be. Be sure to inform all staff of your damage remediation policies and procedures.

If your company building does sustain water damage or fire damage, call quickly to get us there ASAP. The faster you get help the less your damage liability

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County Provides Commercial Restoration Services

12/21/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is known for helping homeowners get back on their feet after damage caused to their home by water, fire and Mother Nature’s storms. But we’re much more than that. We offer a full range of maintenance and restoration services for Commercial Business as well.

Working with us will ensure you have a clean, safe workplace for you and your employees. Your customers will be impressed, and your employees will come into work with a higher level of confidence in your company / business.

Here are some other reasons why our Commercial Services are the key to success for your business.

• Preventative Maintenance: No matter the nature of your business, one thing is certain. All buildings are made up of parts that degrade and eventually fall apart. For example, an almost unnoticeable leak can start in the men’s restroom, and before you know it, your bathroom is flooded. When you work with us, we’ll help you get a step ahead of the curve by making sure problems are taken care of before they’re problems.
• Improved Visual Appearance: SERVPRO of Southern Butler County offers services to keep your business looking sharp and clean for your customers and employees. When you hire us to maintain the appearance of your business, we will make sure it stays looking good as (or better than) new.
• Simplified Management: When you have tons of contractors and services providers sending you bills left and right for different services, it can be hard to keep up. When you work with SERVPRO of Southern Butler County, we bring everything under one roof. We offer fire, water and electrical services along with many others. This helps to simplify your book keeping so you can get back to what matters most: running your business.

To sum it all up, we help your business runs smoothly and efficiently.

Learn More about our Commercial Services by contacting us today at 724-473-0745